Doug Sisk

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Doug Sisk

|image=Doug Sisk Mets.jpg

|position=Pitcher

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1957|9|26}}

|birth_place=Renton, Washington, U.S.

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 6

|debutyear=1982

|debutteam=New York Mets

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=May 23

|finalyear=1991

|finalteam=Atlanta Braves

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=22–20

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=3.27

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=195

|stat4label=Saves

|stat4value=33

|teams=

New York Mets ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1987}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|1988}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|1990}}–{{mlby|1991}})

|highlights=

World Series champion ({{wsy|1986}})

}}

Douglas Randall Sisk (born September 26, 1957), is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. His primary pitch was a sinker that was difficult for batters to drive in the air.

Early years

Sisk earned all-league honors both seasons he spent playing college baseball at Green River Community College. From there, he spent two more seasons with the Washington State University Cougars before signing as an amateur free agent with the New York Mets in {{by|1980}}.{{cite web |date= |title=NWAC Hall of Fame: Doug Sisk |url=http://www.nwaacc.org/hall_of_fame/HOF-member-bio.php?id=411 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627091006/http://www.nwaacc.org/hall_of_fame/HOF-member-bio.php?id=411 |archive-date=2022-06-27 |website=Northwest Athletic Conference}} In his first season of professional baseball with the Kingsport Mets, Sisk went 8–5 with a 2.66 earned run average as a starting pitcher. He was moved into the bullpen the following season with the Lynchburg Mets. Over three seasons in the Mets' farm system, Sisk was 25–14 with a 2.88 ERA, sixteen saves and 170 strikeouts to earn a September call up in {{by|1982}}.

New York Mets

Sisk made his Major League debut on September 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching a scoreless inning.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT198209060.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates 6, New York Mets 1|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=September 6, 1982}} On September 15, he faced one batter, Andre Dawson, in an extra innings contest with the Montreal Expos. Dawson took him deep to left field for his first career loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON198209150.shtml|title=Montreal Expos 6, New York Mets 5|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=September 15, 1982}} Over the remainder of the season, Sisk pitched six innings, and allowed just one hit, picking up his first career save on September 22 against the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198209220.shtml|title=New York Mets 5, Chicago Cubs 2|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=September 22, 1982}}

The {{by|1983}} season opener marked the return of Tom Seaver in a Mets uniform.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/16/Tom-Seaver-a-three-time-Cy-Young-Award-winner-returned/9742408862800/|title=Tom Seaver, a 3 Time Cy Young Award Winner, Returned|publisher=United Press International|date=December 16, 1982}} Seaver pitched six scoreless innings, matched by fellow future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton. Sisk entered in the seventh, and held the Philadelphia Phillies scoreless for the combined shutout. Meanwhile, the Mets broke through with two in the seventh to give Sisk his first career win.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198304050.shtml|title=New York Mets 2, Philadelphia Phillies 0|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=April 5, 1983}} For the season, he went 5–4 with a 2.24 ERA as the right-handed complement to Jesse Orosco. His eleven saves were second to Orosco's seventeen.

He was having a similarly stellar {{by|1984}} season until he developed a sore shoulder. Through June 8, Sisk had allowed only three earned runs through 53.2 innings pitched for an 0.47 ERA. His ERA crept up to 1.40 by the time he took the mound to face the Cubs on July 28.

The Mets were in first place in the National League East, 4.5 games up on the Cubs. Sisk entered the game in the eighth with the score tied at three. He walked the first batter he faced. He uncorked a wild pitch before giving up singles to the next two. He then misplayed a bunt for an error before exiting the game to a booing Shea Stadium crowd.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/29/sports/sisk-is-dismayed-after-his-collapse-against-the-cubs.html|last=Dupont|first=Kevin|date=July 29, 1984|title=Sisk is Dismayed After His Collapse Against the Cubs|newspaper=The New York Times}} Shortly afterwards, he was placed on the disabled list.{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/04/15/5-new-york-mets|last=Kaplan|first=Jim|date=April 15, 1985|title=Five New York Mets|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} He was effective upon his return (9.1 IP, 2 ER), but was by then a target of the Shea Stadium boo birds despite ending the season with a 2.09 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/07/01/all-bent-out-of-shape|last=Neff|first=Craig|date=July 1, 1985|title=All Bent Out of Shape|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}

Lingering injuries hindered Sisk in {{by|1985}}. Opposing batters were hitting .337, and his ERA was 8.53 when he was sent down to triple A Tidewater in early May.{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/05/13/inside-pitch-april-29-may-5|last=Hecht|first=Henry|date=May 13, 1985|title=Inside Pitch (April 29-May 5)|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Despite going 0–2 with a 7.20 ERA for the Tidewater Tides, he returned to the Mets in late May. By then, Roger McDowell had emerged as the right-handed closer for the Mets, and Sisk was pretty much relegated to "mop up duty."

Shortly after his return, he pitched his best game of the season (4 IP, 1 hit) for his second save,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN198506020.shtml|title=New York Mets 7, San Diego Padres 3|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=June 2, 1985}} This was followed by three consecutive losses, the second of which came against the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Entering a 1–1 tie in the thirteenth inning, Sisk allowed six runs (5 ER).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198506070.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals 7, New York Mets 2|location=Shea Stadium|date=June 7, 1985}} From there, he settled down, going 3–0 with a 2.95 ERA until elbow surgery ended his season in mid-September.

The elbow surgery had Sisk rehabbing in Tidewater to start the {{by|1986}} season. After nine games and thirty innings, Sisk returned to the Mets in late May. In his first appearance, he allowed two runs in one inning in a 10–2 blowout at the hands of the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198605220.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants 10, New York Mets 2|location=Candlestick Park|date=May 22, 1986}} From there, he went 2–1 with a 0.47 ERA in nine appearances through July 2. A rough month of July (5.30 ERA) cost him the trust of manager Davey Johnson, and he spent the rest of the season pitching almost exclusively in blowouts. That said, he pitched well, going 2–0 with a 2.62 ERA and one save. He did not allow a home run all season.

In the postseason, Sisk pitched a scoreless inning in game four of the 1986 National League Championship Series{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610120.shtml|title=1986 National League Championship Series, Game 4|location=Shea Stadium|date=October 12, 1986}} and a scoreless .2 of an inning in game two of the World Series,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198610190.shtml|title=1986 World Series, Game 2|location=Shea Stadium|date=October 19, 1986}} both losses.

Sisk had a decent {{by|1987}} season (3–1, 3.46 ERA, 3 SV), but was still being used for mop up duty by Davey Johnson, and was still drawing the ire of the fans. As the ire began to spill more and more off the field, he requested a trade. After the season, he was sent to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitcher Blaine Beatty and a player to be named later.{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-03-07-8801140846-story.html|last=Barnes|first=Craig|date=March 7, 1988|title=Sisk Relieved to Escape Mets' Fans (and Manager)|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel}}

Baltimore Orioles

The 1988 Orioles got off to a historically bad start. They set a modern record by losing their first 21 games to start the season. Sisk actually pitched well during that stretch. He lost one game,{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198804230.shtml|title=Kansas City Royals 4, Baltimore Orioles 3|location=Royals Stadium|date=April 23, 1988}} and allowed three earned runs in 14.1 innings. He was 3–2 with a 3.22 ERA when tendinitis cost him a month of the season. After a brief rehab stint in triple A, he pitched thirteen innings before allowing a run. However, he then began developing knee problems, and had a 6.10 ERA over his final fifteen appearances.

Overall, he went 3–3 with a 3.72 ERA. He led the Orioles bullpen with 94.1 innings in relief, and tied for the team lead in appearances with 52. After the season, he had reconstructive surgery on both knees that caused him to miss the entire {{by|1989}} season.

Atlanta Braves

After the surgery, Sisk's career went through something of a whirlwind that briefly had him back with the Mets. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians prior to Spring training {{by|1990}}. After posting a 7.04 ERA in eight appearances with the triple A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, he was released, and re-signed with the Mets.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19900617-1990-06-17-9006160206-story.html|last=Armour|first=Terry|date=June 17, 1990|title=Tidewater Tides Report|newspaper=Daily Press (Virginia)}} He was 5–1 with a 2.81 ERA at Tidewater when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for minor leaguer Tony Valle on July 22. He appeared in three games for the Braves, pitching 2.1 innings, and allowing one run.

On April 16, {{by|1991}}, Sisk got his first major league win in nearly three years against the Astros.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL199104160.shtml|title=Atlanta Braves 10, Houston Astros 4|location=Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium|date=April 16, 1991}} He would go 2–1 with a 5.02 ERA before tendinitis landed him back on the DL. He played nine games for the triple A Richmond Braves, but never returned to the majors. He was released at the end of the season.

Career stats

class=wikitable style="text-align:center"

|Pct

|ERA

|GS

|GF

|SV

|IP

|ER

|HR

|BB

|WP

|HBP

|BAA

|Fld%

|Avg.

|20

|{{winning percentage|22|20}}

|3.27

|332

|161

|33

|523.1

|527

|190

|238

|15

|267

|195

|15

|20

|.262

|.963

|.105

During his nine-year major-league career, Sisk allowed only 15 home runs in over 500 innings. His only career run batted in came on June 11, 1985. The Mets were already losing 16–0 in the second inning when Sisk entered the game. Batting in the third inning, Sisk grounded out to shortstop Steve Jeltz. Clint Hurdle scored from third for the Mets' first run. Sisk also pitched 2.1 scoreless innings that allowed the Mets to cut the deficit to 16–7. He was lifted in the fifth for a pinch hitter. Promptly afterwards, the Phillies scored ten more off Joe Sambito.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI198506110.shtml|title=Philadelphia Phillies 26, New York Mets 7|location=Veterans Stadium|date=June 11, 1985}}

He was part of the notorious "Scum Bunch" as a Met, along with Orosco and left fielder Danny Heep.{{cite web|url=http://www.centerfieldmaz.com/2019/09/doug-sisk-1986-world-champion-mets.html|title=Doug Sisk: 1986 World Champion Mets Relief Pitcher (1982-1987)|publisher=Centerfield Maz|date=September 25, 2019}}

During the 1994–95 players strike, baseball's owners planned to start the {{by|1995}} season with replacement players.{{cite web |author=Kurkjian |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Kurkjian |date=January 9, 1995 |title=Ball of Confusion |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/01/09/ball-of-confusion-with-an-imposed-salary-cap-in-place-and-court-battles-looming-baseball-spins-out-of-control |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} The 37 year old attended training camp with the Mets until the strike ended on March 28.{{Cite news |last=Frey |first=Jennifer |date=1995-02-18 |title=BASEBALL; Met Camp Attractive To Players In Need |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/18/sports/baseball-met-camp-attractive-to-players-in-need.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130144325/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/18/sports/baseball-met-camp-attractive-to-players-in-need.html |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

After retiring, Sisk became the athletic director of a Boys and Girls Club and then a sales representative for Unique Wine Company, a wine importer and distributor based in his hometown of Renton, Washington.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Alan |title=Doug Sisk |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/doug-sisk/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Society for American Baseball Research}}{{Cite web |title=TeamUnique {{!}} Unique Wine Company |url=https://uniquewine.com/wp/team/ |access-date=2025-05-08 |language=en-US}}

References

External links

{{Baseballstats |mlb=122277 |espn=1177 |br=s/siskdo01 |fangraphs=1012017|brm=sisk--001dou |retro=Psiskd001}}, or [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=siskdo01 Baseball Almanac]